Sakon Pattana Suska School Parade

They were lining up along the street to watch the parade

Mister "T" ain't going to America

Didn't think so from the start. Was more of a publicity stunt.
Hadn't been in the headlines for a while. It's safer doing a video link.
Thaksin canceles US trip  Thai-Asean News

More Chilly Nights Ahead

Chern Chim opens for business

Martin has announced he'll be opening his shop Friday at 466/1 Thanon Senthai Road.
Just a few doors from the Satawtree restaurant.

From Big C head south throught the intersection there. At the next intersection, turn left.

Brrr

The general consensus is that last night was the coldest night of the season (so far),
Official Thai Meteorological recorded the temperature at 14C (57).
Add to that windchill and you have feels like temperatures hovering around 12C (53F).
Expect similar, even slightly cooler temperatures over the next few nights.

A cold front which could be seen  in southernmost China over recent weeks has now entered Laos.
You can see it at weather.com.

This Week

10          Constitution Day
              Sakon Pattana Suska School Parade and Student activities day

11          Chinese Dragon Festival

 

Unusual weather in Antartica

Must be Parade Month

Fathers day activities

My house was almost at a capacity crowd.  Video game on the front porch, ping pong and swimming.
The pool water is too cold as far as I am concerned, but not for half a dozen visitors.

No one was interested in watching the parade or the celebrations.  I was on my own.
It wasn't the usual parade down main street, but four smaller parades converging on the city park.

I stopped off at the local Chinese temple.  I knew they were making last minute preparations for the festivities.

Last minute preparations were also underway at the park.

Then I saw rows of security and government vehicles.
With such heavy security, undoubtedly high ranking officials would be present.
Made me loose all interest in staying around.

Locally it was a dry day (No Alcohol Sales).  According to  Dave The Rave this was not a nationwide dry day.  Bangkok was one of the cities where alcohol sale was allowed. Bars and clubs were open for business.

Used to be a nationwide dry day.  In subsequent years alcohol sales were allowed.  These days it seems to be up to local governments.  Or is it that no one knows the law and makes up their own.


I had no problems buying a beer and saw a number of purchases wrapped in newspaper.

On the subject of alcohol,  Pattaya has extended bar hours to 3 AM and is considering allowing bars to remain open 24 hrs.  Bars are particularly hurting because of the continuing downturn of customers.
A number of bars have closed permanently.  More closures are likely.

Heard drums beating (this afternoon)

Nothing on the main street, so I drove down to the local school (Sakon Pattana Suska).
It was a parade rehearsal.  They are having a student activities day (aka Sport Day) this Friday.
Just hearing about their parade route makes me feel tired.
They start off at the Provincial office buildings and finish the parade at the school.

S-BAC will have their day on Dec 28. Visitors welcome.

Frozen Treat

Most fruit or vegetables have to be blanched before you can freeze them.
Apparently not grapes.  Clean them and stick a bowl in the freezer.
Makes a refreshing frozen snack.

Grandma's Cure

Been taking a couple of aspirin per day. 
Add to that five cups of coffee in the morning, and you have an upset stomach.
Been drinking plenty of the pink stuff  lately to ease my painfull upset stomach.

Then I remembered  my Grandmother's remedy.  I powdered my rice with cinnamon.
Relief was almost immediate.  Been using cinnamon daily in tea since then.

It's cold out there

Queen Elizabeth II -- Underwear Up for Auction TMZ.com (so that's what ROYAL BLOOMERS look like!!)

Accident Halts Live TV Game Show in Germany YouTube (Kids: don't try this at home)

 TSA Security (Rocky Horror Parody) YouTube (prefer the original)

Trees as Banking collateral Bangkok Post  (Thai Innovation)

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No Thankyou, I'll walk

Happy Fathers Day

Doorbell rang early this morning.  Usually don't receive visitors before noon.

Some of my adopted Thai family brought me breakfast.
They do that quite often.  Bless their hearts.
It's really delicious.

Most Thai breakfasts consist of soup

This was a different occasion "Happy Father's day."  It makes me feel really great to have such friends.

The nights have been getting cooler. I'm not complaining.
Some of you folk may think it's T-shirt weather compared to the snow and ice you are encountering. 
But when your day temperatures are 97F (36C) and your night temperatures drop as low as 55F (13C), it's time to grab a blanket.

Fat Boy sleeps on a rug during the cooler nights

Watched Football (soccer) last night. 

Ho Hum, another draw

Thailand had previously (Dec 1) played against Laos. That game also ended in a tie 2 - 2

Visited the Welcome bar last week

The bar is now Thai owned and operated.  It's mostly a late night bar.
If you see their shutters partially open, you are welcome to visit.  They keep the shutters partially down to keep the hot sun out.

Folks looking for books to read may wish to stop off there.  The Welcome Bar is continuing their book exchange.

Poor Sportsmanship

England canceled a friendly match in Thailand planned early next year.
Thailand execs didn't support British hopes for the 2018 FIFA world cup.
If you don't want to play my game, I'm going home and taking my marbles with me!

Local Beef costs inching up

Mama does my weekly beef purchases every Saturday morning.  Recently prices have crept higher on a weekly basis. 
My freezer is almost empty.  Plenty of room.  Within the next few days I'll head to the slaughterhouse and purchase a six month supply.  The slaughterhouse sells to the general public after 8:30 PM, every day except Mondays.

See this on December 11

Avoid this on Dec 11 (don't stand too close)

It's a strange world out there

Keystone Cops Alive and Well

Detectives spent eight hours investigating the grizzliest murder scene in 35 year before realizing it was a movie set.   Read about at  Mail Online

Molesting for Dummies by TSA

TSA recommends using sexual predator tactics to calm kids at checkpoints

They should make him an Ambassador
Immune from petty prosecution

Willie Nelson charged with misdemeanor, rather than felony pot possession

Wikileaks

No new revelations. Confirms what we already knew and gossiped about.

Food costs UP, tourism DOWN

Thai Rice Price Rise to 9 month high  Bloomberg

Worst flooding in almost 50 years in Thailand, I suspect prices of many agriculture products will rise
Flooding to continue in the south The Nation

Tourism Down
10 percent, 20 percent... do we have any higher bids??

Tourism to see drop of 10-15   The Nation
High Season Tourist Arrivals Disappointing   Thai-ASEAN News

Much of the media blames the political unrest earlier this year.
Doubt it had a great effect. There have been such unrest's before. As soon as calm was restored tourists returned.

Worst flooding in decades is also blamed.
Again I doubt that it has significant impact. I visited Ayutthaya after flooding in the 90's. The bus stopped on the road and we paid 20 baht to be ferried to the temple.

 

To take a river trip in Bangkok we walked on planks laid atop submerged restaurant tables to get to the boat ramp.

The real culprit causing such a drastic downturn in tourism is MONEY.
World finances are in disaster and the Thai Baht is too strong.
That's just my opinion.

That's what I call INTENSE political opinion

Parade... Parade.. Parade

Can I borrow your Beamer?

A tenant from the apartment house across the street is moving 100 yards away to a different apartment.
He came to ask me to borrow my Beamer. 
I was somewhat puzzled, since I don't own a BMW.
He pointed...  It was time for a short English lesson:  "Wheelbarrow" 

 

Televised this evening

Football Thailand vs Lao, starts at 5 PM

Saturday Dec 4
Monthly SakonNakhon Cultural Fair

Starts at sunset, downtown

Sunday, Dec 5 
Parade

Celebrating the birthday of HRH the King, starts at 4 PM

Friday, Dec 10 

Constitution day

Saturday, Dec 11
Dragon Festival 

December 11.  Parade departs the temple at 6 AM.  Don't miss the main show at about mid morning, and evening celebration at the temple.  If you visit the temple the night before you can see practices and makeup application

A number of local schools  have Sports day early in the month.  These include parades and entertainment 

The silly side of U.S. Airport security

 
Your airport screening x-rays may soon be available on Pin-Up Calendars

Loudoun County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors member Eugene Delgaudio claims TSA airport pat downs are part of the homosexual agenda. wusa9



A lesson in Bird Photography

by Photographer: Andrey Goncharov found at pixdaus

Alvin, known to others as Steak Isaan

You did say you want this bookcase demolished?

mhm good!! Imported plywood

Manicure??

I really do prefer trees